
Pancakes anyone? Or shall I say, Quarterback Scramble and NFL Stuffed French Toast anyone?
Those are the two menu items that will be offered by the International House of Pancakes as a result of its designation as an official sponsor of the National Football League.
On the same day that the Sports Business Journal (SBJ) reported that story, it also noted that Richard Childress Racing of NASCAR is looking at a dismal short-term future.
As a result of the General Motors bankruptcy filing, Childress lost an expected payment of $2.5 million from the car manufacturer and faces uncertainty with two other sponsors. Contracts with Jack Daniels and Shell related to drivers, Casey Mears and Kevin Harvick expire after this season and one of those deals looks like it is in jeopardy.
On the NFL side of the ledger, IHOP becomes the only current restuarant sponsor for the league and the first since Burger King bowed out after the 2007 season. KFC was linked to the NFL only during the 2008-2009 playoffs.
According to SBJ, the ad agency for IHOP filmed two TV spots utilizing Donovan McNabb and Larry Fitzgerald who appeared in uniform. Think they eat there?
Josh Lobdell covers sports-business stories for Examiner.com, here. Jim Williams is the Sports Media Examiner
Greg Engle covers all things NASCAR, here